Omaha daily bee., 1887-03-13
The Science OF uestruction,

Probably in no period OF the worlds
history has mankind given so much
thought 10 the means of killing men and
the destruction of the work of mems
hands as at the present. In every civil
lized country the most eminent scent-
lists, the most distinguished engineers,
the most skillful mechanics and special
lists are engaged upon tho study of how
to produce the most destructive explo.
sives, the most powerful and far-reach-
ing guns and the most invulnerable ships
for attack and defense. Infinitely more
thought, skill and money are now being
expended upon the means of destroying
life and property than in all the efforts
to advance civilization, education, NOR
ality and the social comfort and we'll
being of the people. New and more
rapid-firing guns for mems hands and
improved death.dealing ammunition for
use in them are replacing the old. Guns
of size. strength and weight of projectile
beyond former conception or supposed
capacity to produce are now being
turned out by thousands of skilled human
hands, aided by the most perfect modern
machinery. New steel ships of supposed
increased power of resistance and the
greatest possible speed to carry these
guns are supplantlng the old iron ships
that cost untold millions Of
the product OF peaceful human labor.
Bombs and torpedoes of the most ire
sistable character for use above water
AMI below, to be filled with new chem
ical explosives of almost infinitely greater
power than powder, are being devised,
tested and made ready for the harvest OF
havoc and death.
In view of all this can il be truthfully
claimed that our civilization is anything
more than veneering? Does it not all
prove that we may scratch the sOttest
human skin and find beneath it an orig,
inal savage' Does it not prove that not,
withstanding our high sounding profes
sions of regard for the rights of man, in
spite of our lip-worship OF Him who came
to teach us peace, justice, charity and
long. suffering, we are rs combative, as
aggressive, as Indifferent to the rights
which stand in the way of our ambitious
and selfish purposes as when our race
consisted of nomadic and ever-warrine
tribes9 Governments claiming to exist
for the defense of the rights of man have
become agencies for mans oppression
and to-day the world is an armed camp
of greater magnitude than ever. Million!
toll that other millions may be placed il
battle array against each other, mainly
for aggression and the qualification OF
the ambition of rulers. Europe is rum
bling, threatening volcano, ant
when the explosion comes ane
the lurid flames of war break forth
tho loss of human life, the destruction o
peaceful homes and fair fields and the
suffering of the innocent and helpless
caused by the savagery of man and tn,
brutal ambition of rulers, will far sur
pass the results of natures recent con
vulsions. And will anything be settle'
permanently? Nothing. The victor o
to-day will not long be satisfied with hi
gains nor will the defeated long submit
to his losses. and thus the savagery O
the race will continue to kill, burn ant
destroy, pretending to uphold the right
to maintain justice, to advance the caus
of religion, and yet marring and soaring
all that is beautiful IN nature while n
human wrongs are redressed. no tru
civilization advanced.